Draw-gear for railway-cars.



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PATENTBD JUNE 30, 1903.

APPLIQATIOF FILED KAY 6, 1902.

J F. COURSON. DRAW GEAR FOR RAILWAY GARS.

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No. 732,521. 'PATENTED JUNE so, 1903. J. P. coURsoN. DRAW. GEAR PoRRAILWAY GARS.

APPLIOATIONl FILED KAY 6, 1902.

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' No. 732,521. r PATBNTED JUNE so, 19o-a.'

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r DRAWLGBAR PoRl RAILWAY GARS.

Y Affinia-Anon FILED un e. 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented VJ' une 30, 1903.

JOHN F. COURSON, OF PITCAIRN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAW-GEAR FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N 0. 732,521, dated June30, 1903.

Application filed May 6. 1902. Serial No. 106.179. (No modem To a/ZZwhom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, J OH F. COURSON, a citi.

zen of the United States, residing at Pitcairn, Allegheny county,Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDraw-Gear for Railway-Cars, of which the -following is a speciiication.

In the accom an inodrawinos Fioure 1 isv C b 7 C Y alongitudinalvertical sectional view through so much of the draw-bar and supporting-Aframe as is necessary to a complete understanding of my invention, partsbeing shown in side elevation.` Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is across-sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectionalview on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are views of theseveral plates used in my construction. Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 1S, 19, and 2O are views of detail parts.` Fig. 21 is a view' ofanother arrangement of the l key.

The draw-bar comprisesfa bar 2, having a strap b bolted thereto andextending rearwardly therefrom, said strap inclosing the at their upperand lower ends embracing the series of plates being engaged with theupper .and lower surfaces of the upper and lower plates 2. Theselocking-bars 6 are toothed on their lateral edges to engage the teeth ofthe bars 7, and when so engaged the drawbar will be supported from theframe of the car. The toothed parts are held in engagement by a suitablekey 13, which is arranged between the edge of the locking-bar 6 and theedge ot' the recess in the plate 2. By removing this key it will be seenthat the locking bar 6 may be moved aside to be disengaged from theteeth of the supporting-bar 7, and the draw-bar will vthen be free to beraised or lowered in relation to the car, and when adjusted to thedesired positionthe toothed parts may be engaged again and held by thekey. There are two of these supporting means at each side of thedraw-bar and they are similar in all respects.

Between the plates 2, of which there are six shown in the drawings, aseries of plates 5 are arranged, these extending from the bearingpiece dto the bearing-piece c and bearing at their front and rear edges uponthe said pieces. These plates are free to move with the drawbar in adirection. longitudinally of the car, as they are not connected with thecar-frame. It will be noticed that the plates 2, which, however, areheld rigidly against this longitudinal movement, are shorter than theplates 5, leaving spaces at 14, Fig. 1, between their front and rearedges and the pieces c and d. By this construction it will be seen thatthe draw-bar is free to move longitudinally in respect to the relativelyFixed plates 2. The plates 2 have an opening at their central portions,and springs 15 and 16 are located in the central space thus formed. Theplates 5, eX- cepting the upper and lower onesalso have central openingsto vprovide the space for the springs. The sprin g 15 is much strongerthan the spring 16 located within it, and it is borne upon by plates 17,arrangedat right angles to the series of plates heretofore mentioned.The inner spring has bearing upon its ends plates 18, and these arearranged to be pressed upon by Vstuds 19 projecting fromcentrally-arranged plates 3. These plates are transversely grooved ontheir upper and lower faces, providing a series of inclines orcam-surfaces 20,

which are engaged by similar grooved or toothed portions of plates 1,bearing upon their outer edges upon the pieces c and d, respectively,and, at their inner edges bearing upon the transverse plates 17. Theform of these plates is shown in Figs. 10 to 13, and those at the frontend of the nest of plates ICO are slightly separated from those at thereai` by the space indicated at 2l in Fig. 2, between the inner edges orends of said plates.

It will be seen that the spring 15 will provide a cushioning effectwhether the draw-bar is forced baekwardly upon the impact in couplingthe cars or if it is pulled forwardly on starting the ear. In eithercase the plates 5, pushing upon the transverse plate 1.7, will act tocompress the spring l5, the other end of the spring being held by theplate I7 at that end bearing upon the rigid plates 2. It is my'object touse a spring of comparatively low power or resistance, and for thispurpose I combine with the spring-cushion a frictionapplying actionwhereby the shock or strain will be absorbed by increasing thefrictional pressure between the movable and fixed plates. For thispurpose the toothed pla-tes are provided, and the spring IG is used forplacing upon the .inner plate a yielding resistance to its movementlongitudinally with the draw bar. Supposing, for instance, the draw-barreceives the impact in the coupling operation and is moved rearwardly,the plates l will move therewith, and as the centrally-toothed or camplate f3 is held against free longitudinal movement by the spring 16 theplates l will be separated by their toothed portions riding up theinclines of the plates 3, and increased frictional contact will becreated between the plates 2 and the plates 5, it being understood thatall of these plates are capable of slight adjustment vertically, thearrangement of the holding-bar 7 and locking-barG in the recessed edgesof the plates 2 permitting this action. By this arrangement I obtain notonly the cushioning eilect of the spring l5, but a frictional resistanceproportionate to the shock or strain sustained by the drawbaiz Thespring 1G prevents any damage to the parts, as this will yield slightlywhile retarding the movement of the central cam-plate The action is thesame whether the d raw-bar is pulled forwardly or pushed rearwardly. Theform of the friction eam-plate 3 is shown in Fig. l2. It has stopprojections 22, which bear upon theinner edges of the supporting-bars 7of the keys and prevent the said cam-plates from moving in an outwarddirection. The plates l also have stops for a similar purpose, Fig. lO.

In the arrangement shown the frictional pressure would occur at theforward end of the nest of plates when the draw-bar is pushed backwardand it would occur at the rear end of the said nest of plates when thedraw-bar is pulled forwardly; but I do not wish to limit myself to thissingle or independent action of the parts.

In order to adjust the draw-bar at a point :forward of the nest ofplates, I provide a supporting band or head 23, Figs. a and 20, toothedat 2st on its lateral edges. Toothed holdingfbars 25 are secured to theframe of the car and with one of these the toothed band engages. At theopposite side of the band, however, connection between its toothedportion and the toothed supporting-bar 25 is formed by a double key 2G.(Shown in Figs. at and lil.) fly removing this key the supportting-bandmay be adjusted up or down together with the draw-bar.

I do not wish to limit myself to the form of cam-plates shown, as thecam or spreading action may be secured in other ways than thatdescribed.

The spring IG serves to return the camplates to normal position aftereach action.

It will be noticed that the same spring l5 answers as a buffer for boththe forward and rearward movement of the draw-bar. The one spring servesalso to resist the movement of both the cam or wedge plates 3 and torcturn them to normal position.

It will be seen that the relatively fixed plates 2 serve, in effect, asthe abutment bctween which and the movable plates the spring l5 isinterposed. Ido not wish to limit myself to the construction shown, inwhich each plate 2 and each plate 5 is formed in one piece, 'it beingonly necessary-that an opening be provided `for the sprilig intermediateof the length of the pla-tes.

Some of the plates 2 are formed with eentral openings, as at .fr fr',Figs. G and S, while others are intact throughout. These latter platesform the upper and lower layer of the nest of plates.

Some of the plates 5 have central openings, as at y, Fig. D, whileothers are not so provided, as shown in Fig. 7. The latter plates extendimmediately above and below the springs.

The width of the openings f z/ differ according to the position of theplate in relation to the spring, those nearer the top and bottom havingnarrower openings, as shown in Fi b.

In Fig. 2l it will be noticed that the key is placed in rear of therigid bar 7 instead of in front of the movable locking-bar G. In orderto adjust the drawbarin this latter ease, the key 13 is removed and thenthe entire draw-bar is pulled forwardly until the teeth of the bar (Sbecome disengaged from the teeth of the bar 7. The drawbar is thenraised or lowered as desired and is then pushed back, and when thetoothed parts of the bars C and 7 are again in engagement the key isinserted back of the rigid bar 7.

I claiml. In combination, a draw-bar, a plate carried thereby andmovable therewith, a relatively iixed plate in contact with the movableplate, resilient means for resisting the movement of the movable plate,and mea-ns for increasing the 'frictionai contact between the movableand relatively fixed plates, the said iixed plate serving as theabutment be tween which and the movable plate the resilient means isinterposed, substaiitially as described.

2. In combination, a draw-bar, a plate eX- tending transversely of thedraw bar and IOC) of said plate when the draw-bar is moved inv eitherdirection and means for increasing the frictional contact between theplates when the draw-bar is pushed or pulled, substantially asdescribed.

3. In combination, a draw-bar, a plate con nected with the frame andfixed in relation to the draw-bar, a plate movable with the draw bar,said plates having openings at their central portions, a spring locatedin the space thus formed and arranged to be compressed by the edges ofthe fixed and movable plates when the draw bar is either pushed orpulled and means for varying the frictional resistance between the fixedand movable plates, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the draw-bar,a plate carried thereby and movabletherewith, a relatively iixed plate in contact with the movable plate, abuffer-spring arranged intermediate of the front and rear ends of theplates and arranged to be compressed between the edges of the fixed andmovable plates when the draw-bar is moved in either direction and meansfor varying the frictional pressure be,-

tween the fixed and movable plates, substan-v tially as described.

5. In combination, a draw-bar, a plate carried thereby and `movabletherewith, a relatively fixed plate in contact with the movable plate, aspring arranged intermediate of the front and rear of the plates, ,wedgeor cam plates 3, one for each end of thenest of plates, a springinterposed between the plates 3 and plates 1 to be acted on by thecam-plates, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a draw-bar, a plate carried thereby, a platerelatively fixed and in contact with the movable plate, a bufferspringarranged intermediate of the front and rear end of the plates, a wedgeor clamping member at each end of the plates and a spring interposedbetweenl said clamping members, substantially as described.

7. In combination, a draw-bar, a plate carried thereby, a relativelyfixed plate connect ed with the car, a spring 15 arranged intermediateof the front and rear end of the superimposed plates, and arranged toact upon movement of the draw-bar in either direction, plates 17interposed between the ends of the spring and the edges of the plates,clamping means and a spring 16 inclosed within the spring 15 andinterposed between the clamping means, substantially as described.

8. In combination, a draw-bar, a friction member movable therewith, arelatively fixed friction member in contact with the movable member7resilient means for resisting the movement of the movable member andmeans for increasing the frictional contact between the movable andrelatively xed members, the said fixed member serving both as thefriction member and also as the abutmentbetween which and the movablemember the resilient means is interposed, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the draft-bar, two

friction members consisting of two fiat plates, one movable and theother relatively fixed, a yielding resistance medium and an abutment forholding the relatively fixed Vmember against movement in eitherdirection by engaging shoulders thereon, said shoulder projectinglaterally from the edge of the plate, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a draft-bar, two friction members, one movableand the other relatively fixed, a yielding resistance and abutment meansfor engaging laterally-ar-k ranged shoulders on the friction members tohold the fixed member against movement in either direction,substantially as described.

11. In combination with a draft-bar, a friction member recessed on itsedge and means in said recess connected with the car-frame for holdingthe said member removably in place and a coacting frictionmember,substan tially as described.

12. In combination with a draft-bar, a strap,

said plates being laterally recessed to provide i shoulders, andabutments connected with the car-frame to hold the said plates inposition, substantially as described. l

14. In combination, a draft bar, friction `members andvertically-arranged abutment means connected with the car, said abutmentmeans engaging one or more of the friction members, said friction memberbeing detach- ICO IIO

able from the abutment means by moving the v same vertically,substantially as described.

15. In combination, friction members, carrier means therefor, means forholding'the carrier to the car-frame comprising a shifting lockingmember and means for holding one of the friction members againstmovement in either direction, substantially as described.

16` In a draw-gear and buffing apparatus, the combination with afriction element capable of forward and backward movement from itsnormal position and having friction-faces parallel to the line of draft,of secondary friction elements in fixed positions and havingfriction-faces contacting with the frictionfaces on the primary frictionelement, and a wedging device for creating friction between the primaryand secondary friction elements, substantially as described.

17. In a draw-gear and bufiing apparatus,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A Jo'HNF. ooURsoN.

\Vit1iesses R. PEALE, LEE R. NVILSON.

